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Exploring Em
Ok Noosa onwards!
We arrived and realised that this place was probably abit plush for backpackers! But we had things to do from here so that was fine. Firstly we booked a surfing lesson!
So off we went the next day with ex pro surfers! Luckily it was only me and Mark on the lesson too so it was like one on one...or two on one. The waves looked small but they were cool. I liked it coz this time i worked more on technique, rather than when they have you doing everything too fast! I realised how rubbish the other teachers had been! Mark stood up first attempt! And he was really good too! We had so much fun! I did nearly crash into the rock! But i'm not very good at steering yet! That afternoon Mark went kayaking and i had a stroll to but pressies and went and walked along the beach.
The next day was our day trip to frazer Island. An early start and a cloudy day :(
The driver was really funny, we were in a 4WD small bus with not alot of people so it was cool. We got the ferry over to frazer which only took about ten mins and then drove down 75mile beach! On the way we saw a dingo (helen you will be pleased to know). These, for those who dont know are kinda wild dogs! This one was ripping open a fish as we drove past. Frazer is the largest sand Island in the world and is very pretty (although not as gorgeous as we had expected...but maybe that was coz of the clouds) Not a good place to surf either as the waters are shark infested and got very bad rips.
We stopped at a number of places, the pinnacles, a shipweack, some creaks and then we went for lunch. however my lunch was abit spoiled by a drunk boyfriend who kept ringing me! And drunk friends texting!hee hee.So i missed out on some of the food! Then we drove through the rainforest to Lake Mackensie, this was absolutly beautiful!A gorgeous lake surrounded by pure white sand. We laid about there for abit. There are signs everywhere though that say dont go to the toilet alone, only in pairs, so one person can look out for the dingos! And if one approaches you you have to stare it in the eyes till they go away! Scary! You cant leave any food around and there are cages to store things. If you get caught by the ranger leaving anything around then you get an on the spot fine for $300! Anyway the day in Frazer was a good one, made by the very funny driver! It was cool racing down the beach in the bus trying to beat the advancing tide!
We woke up very early the next day for our 900k drive! We were planning on making it to Airlie beach. We stopped in a place called Rockhampton for lunch and it was such a weird place! Me and mark went our seperate ways for lunch, him for fish and chips... me for a subway (not much choice for a vegi in this town). We both returned about an hour later completly stressed and traumatised! Subway was an absolute nightmare, 7 people behind the counter, one customer in front of me getting mad coz they were all stupid! It ended up with the girl behind the counter chucking a sandwich! Anyway Mark had a simular encounter! I couldnt eat mine and they all looked dirty! So off we sped out of Rockhampton and away. Realising we had overstretched ourselves driving wise we decided to stop in Mackay. You really need to get to campsites before dark as the offices shut and it gets dark early here, even in summer which is a shame. About 6 at the latest at this time of year! Also the Kangaroos, with no road sense come out at dusk and we dont wanna be hitting one of them!
So we pulled into a caravan park. Which was horrid but no real choice! It was just a boggy field really but we stayed! We went over to a pud for some food and drink. Its a weird pace but we ended up chatting to loads of locals so that was nice.
We were very scared of snakes and spiders that night getting into the van! We were in an infested field! here are so many things to be scared of in this country! The next morning we drove off before 6 without even getting out of the van!
So we arrived in Airlie Beach and checked into a hostel for a treat! This place seemed ok but our main reason for been here was to go on a Whitsunday Island Cruise. We had a look around Airlie, to say its called Airlie beach there isnt really a beach??? Its a man made lagoon. We booked on a tour for the next day. A days sailing around the islands in a catarmaran! It was such good value, everything included, food alcohol the lot!
So off we went at 7 the next morning to take to the seas! The caramaran was huge. We sailed to Daydream island first to get some more people then we went for a few hours sailing around various islands (74 altogether) whilst having morning tea.
The sea got really bumpy at this point and i went to the toilet which was down in the bottom front of the boat...ie: the most bumpy! And i actually got thrown off it! When i got back upstairs there wereloads of people been sick! Which made me feel sick and i dont even get motion sickness!
Then we stopped and got on a speed boat which took us ashore to Whitehaven beach which was absolutly wonderful! So gorgeous and the best sand i have ever felt! Both in texture and colour! This whole island is a national park. So we laid on the beach for abit, mark had a swim... i paddled. Then back aboard for the most gorgeous food! bbq salads alsorts and free alcohol. Then we sailed for another hour or so to just off hook Island where we were to snorkel.
We had to wear stinger suits for this, or it was advised as it was still stinger season. Stingers are box jelly fish that kill you with just one sting. They are also hard to see as their heads are so small but they have 4 metre tenticles that are see through! Scary stuff!
So in we got and there was the reef right below our feet! You had to be careful not to stand on it! There were loads of fish too. Big ones and little ones. There was a Barracuda in there and a reef shark! But i only stayed in ten mins coz it panicked me! there is so much to kill you in this god damn country! You can never relax in the water once you head north! And a shark is a shark to me! Mark loved it though as he .had never been snorkelling before.
After we got out it was time for cheese and biscuits and loads of fruit before heading back to Airlie! It was such a lovely day, really relaxing!
We left the next day to Mission Beach. This is a very quite costal village with three massive beaches and we had come here for some sun and relaxing after all the driving! As believe it or not, even though it has been warm alot its rained alot too! We thought the weather and beaches would get better the further north you get but it gets more rainy! And you can harly swim in the sea anywhere because of stinger risks! They have nets that you have to swim inside. We were kinda wishing we had spent more time at Anna Bay and Byron now!
But anyway mission was a sweet place and it was nice to relax! I was starting to get worried i would need a holiday when i got home! We played pool, draughts on the campsite and got talking to an Irish couple who had just had a very close shave with a shark! But more importantly they gave us some tea bags! Now its been months! so the next morning i bought an international paper and had a cuppa sat eating my breakie! It was fab! Then after sitting around the pool in the drizzly weather feeling very british... we decided to get bikes and off we went! Very hilly and had to watch out for the Casserwarys, massive Emu like birds that run across the road! But it was a cool ride. We went for tea at a bar which was run by a man from Morley! He had such a strange accent half yorkshire half ozzie! But he did the best hot chocolate fudge cake! Yum... all that biking to waste!
We were going to stay another day but when we woke up the next mornng it was raining, belting it down! So we thought we would have a driving day and headed to Port Douglas instead. This was a nice little town, just above Cairns. The road there was amazing! Right along the coast! It was like a racing car game! I had to keep Mark in line though as i could tell he wanted to speed! I shopped abit for pressies then we went for a massive long walk along the beach, which was gorgeous. And the weather was hot again!But as the sunset the beach was covered in freaky jumping flies! So we made a quick exit! We had a drink in our hostel bar... we were in the campsite bit which was so cramped the van was touching someones tent! And it seems everyone lives here! We decided to go for another long walk and got some sorbet.
Next drizzly day again! My tan is fading fast! Everytime we have free days to relax the weather is poor! And all the drving days its sunny! Always humid though. Anyhow we decided to drive to Cape tribulation for the day. Caught a cable ferry across the Daintree river and into the Daintree national park. This is supposidly the oldest rain forest in the world (not thee rainforest tho wendy! hee hee).
We paid to go in a certain part where they have walkways around the tree tops, all enviromently friendly though. I kinda wish we hadnt have bothered though! I just keep scaring myself in this creepy country. There were signs saying what to do if you see a cassawary, they flying kick you! And what to watch out for and what not to approach! For instance... the northern python or something that grows to 8.2 metres! Now that is a big snake! And which snakes are aggressive etc! it was terrifying! And none of these are winding you up and its not a zoo! Its a real life rainforest and i was scared! Now Mark wanted to walk down in the lower walkways but i didnt! He thought that they wouldnt let you do it if it was dangerous but they would! And they did. So off he went on his own pretending he wasnt scared. Little did he know i was watching down on him from the high walkway and you should have seen the little girl! He was jumping very high everytime there was a noise! hee hee. And he did it so quick he must have ran round! Braver than me tho. then after some more driving around this beautiful place we headed to Cairns to a campsite for the last night in our campervan :(
We found a hostel the next morning then went to drop the van off! luckily they didnt notice the small chip in the windscreen... caused by a flying stone! And then went to our hostel that looked ok... but it isnt really. We walked in our room and i honestly nearly died! the mess is unbelievable! now i can be messy but you should see this caused by 3 swedish girls! Really you cant see any of the floor! We looked round cairns, i went shopping as it was drizzly again. I quite like Cairns, once again kept hearing bad stuff but we both like it. After our free tiny tea from the hostel we met up with a girl wgo we met on Magnetic Island... tried to find some night life which cairns is known for but EVERYWHERE was dead. We went everywhere! Dont know whats going on there. So basically ive spent the last few days wandering around, sorting out some final stuff and relaxing and reflecting. At least i dont feel like i need another holiday like i did before.
I have forgot to put in this blog that we went to the Australia Zoo (Steve Irwins) which was good. Although Zoo's always make me sad. But did you know crocs live for 200 years or more? They havnt recorded one fully yet... or is that aligaters? erm whatever.
Well Mark has gone to Singapore now (he booked wrong flight), I'm flying out to meet him tomoro (my 13th flight of the trip so im scared!?!) Just gonna get some food and have a quiet night readingmy new book. Maybe meet Kelly later. So this is it! My last blog entry as im not gonna bother doing one for my day/night in Singapore! Will see My family and Phil at the weekend! Work people on Monday morning at 8:30 :( and my wife on tuesay! everyone else I shall hopefully see on Friday for my homecoming/ Helens Birthday!!! yippee!!!
Well i'd like to say its been a pleasure but this blog as been a pian to write! And a pain to read i bet!?! But im sure i will look back on it fondly.
Can't wait to see you all.
Take Care Love Emma.xxx.
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